SAN DIEGO STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL: Aztecs prepare to add trio of transfers

DAN HAYES dhayes@nctimes.com

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SAN DIEGO — The coaching staff of the San Diego State men'sbasketball team hoped that last season's 34 wins would paydividends in the transfer market.

Consider those wishes fulfilled.

With the decision of Virginia's James Johnson to transfer lastmonth, the Aztecs will add two ESPN four-star recruits — Johnsonand Dwayne Polee II (St. John's) — and three-star prospect J.J.O'Brien (Utah) to next season's roster. All three players will besophomores when they become eligible.

"These guys are all wonderful players," Aztecs assistant coach
Brian Dutcher said. "And we're not just taking kids because they're
talented. We're taking them because they're good fits for what we
need. We're just not taking anybody and everybody — we're pretty
selective."

Johnson, a 6-foot-11 forward from Wildomar, will provide the
Aztecs with a top-flight inside presence they have lacked this
season. Assistant coach Tony Bland considers Polee one of the top
athletes in the country, and the versatile O'Brien can play any
position from point guard to power forward.

An in-season transfer who won't be able to play until
mid-December, Johnson is excited about the trio's potential.

"We're definitely going to add a lot of toughness and we're
going to add a lot of offensive options because we're all good
scorers," Johnson said. "We'll definitely have more outside-inside
looks. We'll get out and run, and there should be a lot more
highlight plays."

Polee arrived last summer when he selected San Diego State overCal, Arizona and Oregon. Coach Steve Fisher's staff hoped that theNCAA would grant the former St. John's starter a hardship waiver toplay this season because Polee's mother is ill and he wanted tomove closer to his Los Angeles home. But Polee, who said he wasn'tsurprised that he didn't receive the waiver, still believes he hastaken advantage of the situation.

"Sometimes it's kind of tough knowing that you can't get out
there and help your team, but at the same time you're getting them
better, better prepared for the game, and you're getting a good
feel for the players for the following year," Polee said. "Right
now we're building a lot of chemistry leading up to next year.
We're still going against each other and feeling each other
out."

O'Brien believes he also has made the most of his time. A
starter at Utah, O'Brien has worked to improve specific aspects of
his game and digest the Aztecs' system.

"You get a year off to learn Coach Fisher's system and the
plays," O'Brien said. "I've gotten better at that and just my
overall game — shooting, dribbling, getting stronger. I feel like
I've gotten better at all that."